History Main / PsychoKnifeNut

%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!

%%
%%
%%
%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1315943915070998600
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
%%
[[quoteright:235:[[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/corinthian_with_knife.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:235:[[{{Pun}} Knife to meet you]].]]

* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', Shinji's Unit-01 mech is equipped with a large combat knife to contrast the more advanced utility cutter carried by Asuka's Unit-02. Aside from his status as TheBerserker, Shinji has a caseload of emotional issues [[spoiler: that helps bring about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt]].

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate'': Jack The Ripper is perhaps the most exaggerated version of the killer so far. Of course, he mostly wields a knife and a blade in general. However while the real killer mostly struck at night, this version massacred in [[CreepyAwesome broad daylight]]. Also during the DLC, there were plenty of witnesses to Jack's bloody crimes, while the real Ripper was as elusive as a ghost.

Knives have a long history in media of being the WeaponOfChoice for slasher villains, unhinged individuals, or anyone with a penchant for violence.

Subtrope of WeaponOfChoice. Related to DeviousDaggers, SinisterSwitchblade, SinisterShiv, MacheteMayhem, KukrisAreKool, and BayonetYa. No relation to GunNut despite the similar names.

** Himiko Toga is an AxCrazy {{Yandere}} who carries multiple knives on her as her WeaponOfChoice. She derives great pleasure from stabbing those she loves with them.

* ''Film/RipperLetterFromHell'': The killer's WeaponOfChoice is a large butcher's knife.

* ''Film/SuspectZero'': SerialKiller O'Ryan uses a long, curved dagger as his WeaponOfChoice, both for killing his victims and his signature of removing their eyelids.

* ''Series/Batwoman2019''. The balisong is the WeaponOfChoice for mad supervillain Alice, who lampshades the advantage of being able to [[EvilIsHammy flip it around in a menacing fashion]] while explaining your EvilPlan.

* ''VideoGame/FallenLondon'' has Jack-of-Smiles, an {{Expy}} of Jack The Ripper. [[spoiler:Actually, Jack-of-Smiles ''is'' his knives, which explains his plentiful bodies to use. The knives are alive, have a mind of their own, and will take over yours if you hold one for too long.]]

One reason for this is that knives are ''scary'', as a single glimmer from its profile in AxCrazy hands has been known to provoke screeches of horror (that and the possibility that they're more painful than any gunshot will ever be). Another reason is that knives are very accessible -- if a once-sane person suffers from SanitySlippage, chances are they already have several sharp knives in their house with which to get their killing spree started once their mental state reaches "murderous". Knives are also relatively easy to deal damage with, and a great way to release pent up rage and hatred. Once a crazy knife-wielder gets close enough to enter a stabbing frenzy, it's almost impossible for their victim or those close by to stop them.

Subtrope of WeaponOfChoice. Related to DeviousDaggers, SinisterSwitchblade, SinisterShiv, MacheteMayhem, KukrisAreKool and BayonetYa. No relation to GunNut despite the similar names.

* ''Literature/AngelsOfMusic'': Rollo is the knife-thrower in ''Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol'' in "Guignol" who is dismissed for collaborating a little too willingly with the horrors. He returns in "Deluge" equipped with dozens of blades and looking to extract vengeance on the Angels by skinning them.

** Based on what Slim does to Big Jim in "You Don't Mess Around With Jim", he likely qualifies. To clarify, "And when the cuttin' was done the only part that wasn't bloody was the soles of the big man's feet. Yeah he was cut in about a hundred places..."

* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'': [[spoiler:Yuri is one. If you go down the Yuri route in Act 1, it's revealed that she has a large collection of knives at home, and the one she brings over to the MC's home is [[AbsurdlySharpBlade so sharp that gently touching its tip causes bleeding]]. Yuri even says it "[[FridgeHorror cuts through skin like paper]]". Her SelfHarm tendencies are hinted at, as well, creating a real UncannyValleyGirl feeling about her. This is brought to full light in Act 2, where Yuri basically goes full on {{Yandere}}, courtesy of Monika's MindRape combined with HostileShowTakeover, which worsens her obsessive traits and self-harm tendencies. You end up with some indiscretion shots of Yuri cutting herself (both of which are hijacked by Monika; one is rewound and the other has her physically manifest over the entire GUI), as well as the climactic ending of Act 2, where Yuri stabs herself to death, either as a show of [[DrivenToSuicide pure despair at the player refusing her confession]], or a show of [[EroticAsphyxiation pure ecstasy at the player accepting it]]. [[ButThouMust Either way, she dies.]]]]
* The mysterious killer in the ''VisualNovel/{{Yarudora}}'' game ''VisualNovel/DoubleCast'' primary uses a knife, giving much tension in the scenes where he assaults the protagonist and/or his friends.

* When sweet little [[spoiler:Kotonoha Katsura]] from ''VisualNovel/SchoolDays'' snaps after all the BreakTheCutie and [[{{Yandere}} her own emotional instability]], she grabs a cleaver and shows how well she can use it. Seeing the kid [[spoiler:[[SlashedThroat slash Sekai's throat]] open with it in one of the bad endings is... horrifying]]. In TheAnimeOfTheGame, it's even worse. [[spoiler:Sekai fatally snaps on Makoto via stabbing him repeatedly in the chest with a kitchen knife, and then Kotonoha stabs ''and cuts Sekai's stomach open'' afterwards with another ''huge'' knife... after revealing that she beheaded Makoto's corpse. [[AlasPoorYorick And then she carries the head with her.]]]]

* In ''Film/Masquerade2021'', Rose stabs [[spoiler: Daniel]] repeatedly with a kitchen knife, and there are several lengthy shots of the leather-clad intruder holding the blood-smeared weapon just to emphasize how crazy this woman is.

[[folder:Light Novels]]
* ''LightNovel/ReZero'': Elsa Grandhirte is an AxCrazy assassin who fights with [[KukrisAreKool kukri blades]].
[[/folder]]

* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'': [[spoiler:Yuri is one. If you go down the Yuri route in Act 1, it's revealed that she has a large collection of knives at home, and the one she brings over to the MC's home is [[AbsurdlySharpBlade so sharp that gently touching its tip causes bleeding]]. Yuri even says it "[[FridgeHorror cuts through skin like paper]]". Her SelfHarm tendencies are hinted at, as well, creating a real UncannyValleyGirl feeling about her. This is brought to full light in Act 2, where Yuri basically goes full on {{Yandere}}, courtesy of Monika's MindRape combined with HostileShowTakeover, which takes her obsessive traits and self-harm tendencies UpToEleven. You end up with some indiscretion shots of Yuri cutting herself (both of which are hijacked by Monika; one is rewound and the other has her physically manifest over the entire GUI), as well as the climactic ending of Act 2, where Yuri stabs herself to death, either as a show of [[DrivenToSuicide pure despair at the player refusing her confession]], or a show of [[EroticAsphyxiation pure ecstasy at the player accepting it]]. [[ButThouMust Either way, she dies.]]]]

* ''Webcomic/Homestuck'': AxCrazy Jack Noir absolutely loves his knives, and has a habit of stabbing people with said knives. If he ever gets a chance to stab something, expect him to do it, even as a ''greeting''.

%% Please do not change orF remove without starting a new thread.

* ''VideoGame/TheBlackHeart'': Peketo has an infinite supply of knives that he uses in combat. Keep in mind that he murdered seven people for the sake of a color [[Enfant while he was still a preteen]].